Wild Horse Adoption at Wyoming Honor Farm Draws Near

The upcoming Bureau of Land Management (BLM)/Wyoming Honor Farm adoption in Riverton, Wyo., is much more than your average wild horse adoption.

On Friday, Aug. 24, the Honor Farm will offer a free clinic to demonstrate their wild horse gentling program, followed by a preview of the horses that will be available for adoption the following day. The clinic will feature demonstrations by Honor Farm Training Supervisor Jeff Martin focusing on catching a horse, advance and retreat, picking up feet and beginning to ride. The gentling clinic runs from 1-3 p.m. and is open to the public.

Honor Farm Horse Supervisor Jeff Martin says that laying the groundwork is the first and most important step when it comes to gentling a wild horse. “We start with lots of round pen work which leads to the halter stage, saddle acceptance and finally, rider acceptance,” Martin said. “We eventually want to reach the point when we have a horse that says to its trainer, ‘How may I help you? I’d love to do that for you.’ At that point, the horse and the trainer have learned about partnership and respect for each other.”

Friday’s gentling clinic will be followed by the adoption on Saturday, Aug. 25. The gates will open at 7:30 a.m., with the competitive bidding beginning at 10:30 a.m. Approximately 30 halter and saddle-started horses will be available for adoption. All horses offered have been trailered and have had their feet handled. Applications for adoption will be accepted on both Friday and Saturday. A covered four-horse trailer with a swing gate is required to adopt.

The BLM and the Honor Farm have worked cooperatively for 24 years to train and adopt wild horses. The Honor Farm has found that this program contributes to inmate rehabilitation success. All inmates of the Honor Farm are given productive, meaningful work and some spend long days working with wild horses gathered from Wyoming public lands, readying them for adoption.

Please remember that firearms, alcohol, drugs and dogs are not allowed onsite at any time. Cell phones, cameras, video equipment and tobacco products must be kept locked in one's vehicle while onsite. In order to maintain a positive environment for visitors, a reasonable clothing standard must be adhered to. Shorts and form-fitting clothing are prohibited.

The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM's mission is to manage and conserve the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations under our mandate of multiple-use and sustained yield. In Fiscal Year 2013, the BLM generated $4.7 billion in receipts from public lands.